Middleton Beach is Albany's main town beach, a long curve of sand on Middleton Bay facing King George Sound, and Ellen Cove at its southern end is the town's swimming hub. The heritage-listed Ellen Cove jetty was first built in 1899-1901 for goods and passengers and has since been rebuilt in concrete and timber; it is now purely recreational. A swimming pontoon is moored off the beach, and since 2016 a shark barrier enclosure has protected the swimming area.

For divers and snorkellers, Ellen Cove is a convenient, sheltered spot rather than a destination. The bottom is mostly sand and seagrass in 1-5 m, with the jetty piles and the granite boulders at the southern end providing structure. Expect herring, whiting, trumpeters, juvenile snapper, blowfish, wrasse and old wives, with cuttlefish, squid and blue swimmer crabs in the seagrass. The jetty piles carry sponges, ascidians and mussels.

It is used for checkout dives, snorkel training and quick after-work swims, and has excellent facilities – café, toilets, showers and a play park – right at the entry point. In winter, southern right and humpback whales enter Middleton Bay to rest, and can be seen close to shore; they are sometimes heard by snorkellers.

Visiting divers wanting reef life will do far better on a boat dive to Michaelmas or Breaksea Islands, or at Frenchman Bay, but Middleton Beach is a pleasant, safe option close to town, especially for families, and a sensible place to test new gear or weighting before a boat trip.

Middleton Beach is 3 km east of Albany's CBD via Middleton Road. Park along Flinders Parade or in the Ellen Cove car park at the southern end, beside the boardwalk and café. Enter from the sand at Ellen Cove; the jetty, pontoon and the granite at the southern end are all within a short swim.

The Ellen Cove Boardwalk continues south toward Point King along the rocky shore.

Middleton Bay faces south-east into King George Sound and is sheltered from ocean swell. Small waves break some distance out and roll in, so the water is usually calm at Ellen Cove. Easterly and south-easterly winds (summer sea breezes) create chop and cloud the water, and winter rain run-off reduces visibility.

Southern right and humpback whales enter the bay in June-October, sometimes within 20-30 m of shore.

Enter at Ellen Cove, snorkel out along the jetty piles, then work south along the granite rocks toward the boardwalk, returning over the sand and seagrass.

No operator; used for swimming, snorkelling and dive training. South Coast Diving Supplies is in Albany.